Li Minfeng steadied himself. He knew that Ziyan must have already placed the ten taels of gold he had prepared and fragments of red ginseng in Li Weiyang’s quarters. Once they searched and found them, no matter how Li Weiyang tried to argue, it would be useless.

Treating her this way was indeed cruel, but who told her to grow increasingly important in the Old Madam’s heart while being so disobedient? In Li Minfeng’s mind, only his own mother and his legitimate sister Li Changle counted as people in this household. The other concubine-born siblings were merely a group of ants. Since such ants dared to offend their authority, naturally they would pay the price! Li Weiyang—this time, even if she didn’t die, she would be expelled from the Li Family!

Li Xiaoran frowned. Weiyang was merely a concubine-born daughter and quite inauspicious. If she truly had stolen the Old Madam’s things, dealing with her privately would suffice. Thinking this, he lowered his head to drink tea, leaving everything to Li Minfeng’s handling.

At this moment, only the Third Madam spoke slowly. “I believe Weiyang is innocent. She is not that kind of person.”

Li Weiyang turned to look at the Third Madam, whose expression remained calm, and smiled. “Thank you, Third Aunt. Unfortunately, only you believe me. Father and Mother both think I’m in the wrong.” Then she looked toward Li Minfeng, her eyes containing only coldness. “Elder Brother, I am also your sister. Although I’m not legitimate-born, I carry the same blood as you. Why must you press me so relentlessly?”

Li Minfeng said coolly, “Third Sister, don’t say such meaningless things. I won’t disregard right and wrong simply out of sympathy for you!”

Right and wrong? Li Weiyang sneered inwardly.

Li Changle said gently, “Third Sister, Elder Brother is doing this for your own good.”

Li Weiyang looked at her coldly. “For my own good? How come I don’t see him falsely accusing Elder Sister like this? Does such an elder brother exist in this world? Using every means to frame his own sister as a thief!”

Li Changle froze, then said awkwardly, “If Third Sister truly has nothing to hide, why not let people search your room? If Elder Brother has truly wronged you, I will definitely make him apologize.”

Li Minfeng smiled coldly. “Changle, can’t you see? Third Sister has a guilty conscience.”

Li Weiyang looked at him and suddenly smiled. She turned her head toward the silent Li Xiaoran. “Father, do you also believe I did this?”

“Listening to your elder brother’s account, it does appear so,” Li Xiaoran said coolly.

Li Minfeng nodded. “Father, if you truly confirm this matter shortly, then you should remove Third Sister from the family register and expel her from the Li Family. We cannot allow her to continue tarnishing the Li Family’s reputation, disturbing the household peace, and turning everything upside down.”

“Young Master, you’re going too far!” The Third Madam frowned.

“Third Aunt, this is a matter of our First Branch. Please don’t interfere,” Li Minfeng said, paying her no heed whatsoever.

“I belong to the Third Branch, but I’m also your elder. Can I not express my own views?” The Third Madam’s words rang with conviction.

Li Minfeng snorted coldly and made no comment.

Li Weiyang looked deeply at the Third Madam, her eyes containing a trace of gratitude. Then she finally looked toward Li Xiaoran. “Father, you truly intend to drive me away?”

Li Xiaoran glanced at Li Weiyang and ultimately nodded. “Weiyang, if you truly did wrong, Father can only expel you. From that point forward, you will no longer be a member of the Li Family!”

Everyone expected Li Weiyang would panic, but unexpectedly she smiled faintly. “The true thief is the one crying ‘catch the thief.’ What reason do I have to feel guilty? Since Elder Brother wants to search, please go ahead and search.”

The Old Madam glanced at Li Minfeng and stopped him from leading people there himself, instead sending Nanny Luo with attendants.

Li Minfeng smiled coldly, merely waiting to see the results.

On the other side, Imperial Physician Lin was extremely meticulous. Rather than just looking, he picked up a fragment, smelling and tasting it. Only after the time it took to drink half a cup of tea did he turn back with a puzzled expression to look at Li Minfeng.

Li Minfeng felt a surge of joy in his heart and stepped forward. “Well, Imperial Physician Lin, this is perilla seed, isn’t it!”

Imperial Physician Lin’s expression showed a trace of peculiarity. “Perilla seed?”

Li Changle sighed. “Weiyang, how could you do such a thing? Look at what a scene this has become—even alarming the Imperial Physician. If you had admitted your mistake earlier, the Old Madam would surely have forgiven you—”

Li Weiyang sneered coldly. “Elder Sister, the Imperial Physician hasn’t even reached a conclusion yet. Why are you so anxious?”

Li Changle’s graceful brows knitted slightly, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, wearing an expression of disappointment. “The evidence is irrefutable, Weiyang. You don’t know how heartbroken your sister feels—”

Li Weiyang smiled gently. “Elder Sister, let’s hear what the Imperial Physician has to say first!”

The Old Madam spoke. “Imperial Physician Lin, is this perilla seed or not?”

Imperial Physician Lin smiled wryly, pointing at the fragment in his hand. “Eldest Miss, how is it that you recognize perilla seed?”

Li Changle replied unhurriedly, “I have studied extensively in the classics and histories, and have also read quite a few medical texts, so I’m familiar with it.”

Imperial Physician Lin shook his head and spread open his palm for everyone to see. “The herbal text states that red ginseng grows in fertile valleys. Its surface is semi-transparent, reddish-brown, occasionally with opaque dark yellow-brown patches, bearing vertical grooves, wrinkles, and fine root marks. The upper part has intermittent, indistinct ring patterns… the taste is slightly bitter…”

“As for perilla seed, although its shape and appearance closely resemble red ginseng, perilla seed is somewhat more robust, and its taste carries a slight sweetness.” With that, his gaze turned to Li Changle as he smiled. “Therefore, Eldest Miss saw incorrectly. This is most definitely red ginseng—genuine red ginseng without the slightest adulteration.”

These words caused Li Changle’s complexion to change dramatically. She became somewhat flustered. “Imperial Physician… you, you must be mistaken…”

“Elder Sister,” Li Weiyang smiled, her face showing a helpless expression, “why do you seem so disappointed that Imperial Physician Lin says this is red ginseng?”

Li Changle was shocked, rendered speechless, and turned back to look at Li Minfeng. Li Minfeng’s expression at this moment was also extremely astonished. “Imperial Physician Lin, could you have made a mistake?”

Imperial Physician Lin’s expression turned cold. “I have practiced medicine for decades. Though I wouldn’t claim my medical skills are supremely brilliant, if I cannot distinguish between red ginseng and perilla seed, I have no business remaining in the Imperial Medical Bureau! Young Master Li, please watch your words!”

“How is this possible—” No matter how composed Li Minfeng was, he was still only an eighteen-year-old youth. Hearing these words, he whirled around to glare at Ziyan as if he wanted to devour her. He had clearly instructed her to replace the red ginseng in the Old Madam’s tea with perilla seed when Li Weiyang wasn’t paying attention. How could there still be red ginseng in the teacup! Had this wretch failed to follow his instructions!

At this moment, Ziyan was also stunned. She had clearly switched the items—how had it turned out this way!

Li Weiyang smiled coldly. No matter what, this group could never imagine that she had long ago instructed Bai Zhi to watch Ziyan closely. Upon discovering her taking action, Bai Zhi immediately found an opportunity to switch the tea!

“Elder Sister, you accused this of being perilla seed for no reason, and Elder Brother, you falsely accused me of theft!” Li Weiyang’s expression appeared somewhat hurt, yet her eyes shone remarkably bright. “What exactly is the reason for all this!”